Places to visit in the city Gwalior
GWALIOR FORT - Gwalior
 The foundation of the Gwalior Fort was laid by Raja Suraj
Sen on the advise of Sage Gwalipa some 1,000 years ago on
a hill where he was supposedly cured of his leprosy. The
Gwalior Fort occupies the whole of the enormous rock it
sits on. Some estimates claim that it is the largest structure
of its kind in the world. The outer wall of the fort stands
3.2 km (2 miles) in length and 35 m in height. A steep road
winds upwards to the fort. On both sides of the road, cut
deep into the rock and towering over the proceedings, are
scores of Jain statues. Some of these are two or three storeys
high and carved, in some cases, more than 2 m into the rock
surface.
GUJARI MAHAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM - Gwalior
 If Man Mandir reflects Man Singh/’s aesthetic sensibilities,
Gujari Mahal speaks of his love for his ninth Gujar wife,
Mrignayni, for whom he built a special palace outside
the fort. It is now a museum and houses a very extensive
collection of stone carvings, many of them rare and exquisite.
The courage and beauty of Mrignayni and her love with
Raja Man Singh are now a part of popular folk tradition.
MAN MANDIR PALACE - Gwalior
Lest the unwary might sometimes suppose, the Man Mandir
is not a temple but a palace. It is the fort/’s piece
de resistance. The palace built by Man Singh Tomar between
1486 and 1516 is a delicate structure exhibiting a sense
of joy and abandon through use of colour, motif, and design.
This palace is also known as the Chitra Mandir or the
Palace of Paintings because of the tiled and painted decorations
of peacocks and other birds. There are chambers for affairs
of state as well as those for relaxation, adorned appropriately
and ornately with carved animals, flowers, and the human
form.
SAS-BAHU TEMPLES - Gwalior
 The Sas-Bahu temples, in another part of the fort, are not
dedicated to a mother-in-law (Sas) and daughter-in-law (Bahu)
as is sometimes supposed. Sas-Bahu is the name traditionally
given to two adjoining temples of different sizes. The larger
of the two is profusely sculpted with graceful figures and
intricate patterns. This is apparent in the interior where,
above the sculpted walls and pillars, an elaborately carved
lotus adorns the roof.
SURAJ KUND - Gwalior
Built in the 15th century, references to the Suraj Kund
complex can be traced as far back as AD 425. Suraj Kund
existed much before the city of Gwalior and is considered
the place where Sage Gwalipa cured Suraj Sen of leprosy
from the waters of this pond.
MEMORIAL OF TANSEN - Gwalior
 Adjacent to the tomb of Ghaus is another small white,
austere tomb. This is the memorial dedicated to Tansen,
a famed musician, and one of the nine gems of Akbar/’s
court. At this place is held the annual Tansen Sangeet
Samaroh, a world-renowned music festival, which brings
forth the essence of Gwalior and its rich heritage of
classical music
TOMB OF MOHAMMAD GHAUS - Gwalior
At another point in the city is the tomb of Mohammad
Ghaus, a saint of the Islamic faith of the 16th century.
Although of little importance from a historical perspective,
the sheer beauty of the tomb is breathtaking. The stone
carving for which the skilled artisans of Gwalior were
justly famous is apparent in the huge panels of lacy screen
work, which combine with an interesting architectural
design to create a delicate, ethereal appeal.
TELI-KA-MANDIR - Gwalior
 Contrasting with the predominant North Indian style of
architecture is the Teli-ka-Mandir. This temple, built
in the ninth century and Dravidian in form, is believed
to be the oldest in the fort. The sculptures are distinctly
North Indian. Some believe it was so named because it
was built in the Telengana style; others say this was
because it was built by telis (oil merchants). A more
recent study ascribes it to Telap Raj, a prime minister
of the region. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, a garuda (mythical
bird) can be seen on top of the 10-metre-high doorway
KALA VITHIKA - Gwalior
Situated near the Gwalior Railway Station in the heart
of the city, Kala Vithika is a good place to venture into
if you want some information on the history and culture
of Gwalior. The museum is open on all days except Sundays
and holidays
SURYA MANDIR - Gwalior
Another important tourist attraction of the city is the
Surya Mandir (Sun Temple), a replica of the famed Sun
Temple at Konark in Orissa. The temple was built by G.
D. Birla, the famous industrialist of India.
SCINDIA MUSEUM - Gwalior
 Much of modern Gwalior is associated with the Scindias
who were prolific builders. The Jai Vilas Palace at Lashkar
is an opulent Italianate structure, set in carefully laid
lawns. Part of the palace functions as residence of the
royal family while the other has been converted into a
museum that effectively documents a more leisurely and
princely lifestyle. The museum exhibits, consisting of
collections of the Scindia family, include such things
as chandeliers weighing several tons, a silver toy train
whose wagons were used as serving dishes, and a glass
cradle from Italy used for the Lord Krishna at Janmashtami. |
